Mature Palm Tree in Solomons Island, Maryland

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

I have been going to Solomons Island, MD for just about all of my adult life. It is a neat little Island community where the Patuxent River empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Very quaint, but fairly popular place to go with a good number of mom and pop shops, restaurants and bars on the water...etc. I first noticed this palm tree sometime around 2000. It is off the beaten path, out towards the end of the Island, somewhat away from where many people go, but not secluded at all. When I first visited it, the very tip tops of the leaves were barely at the top of the window. It was so short, that the short trunk it did have back then was covered by the lower leaves hanging down to the ground so it looked more like a very large palm shrub. It is planted at on the south side of the Chesapeake Biological Lab building. I have seen it in both summer, and winter, and I have never seen any protection on it in winter months. My guess is that since this is surrounded by water that this climate is most likely an 8a, or extremely warm 7b.

To me this really isn't that surprising, as there are quite a few mature Windmills around the DC metro area, even in far colder suburbs that have thrived. Most of them are in private yards / gardens. I know of two large ones in Down Town DC that have been there for many years, that are readily visible to the public eye. Sabal Minor and Needle Palms really arent anything out of the ordinary anymore around here. Anyway...

On a whim I decided to take a day trip over to Calvert County, MD, and while there we visited Solomons Island and had dinner, and of course I had to go check on the palm. I figured it was still there, and there are now a couple more smaller ones on the Island as well, so it seems that the idea of palms on this Island has somewhat caught on. Well, suffice it to say, my first comment was WOW! Not only has it survived, but it appears to be thriving. Not only is it now taller than the building, but it appears to have bloomed numerous times over the years. The only things I know about this palm are what I have stated, and that this one was a replacement for one that was there previously that was apparently neglected, and did not survive. I'm not sure exactly how old this palm is, but I am going to guess its about 20 years old? I know for a fact it has been there for at least 10 years.

For those who do not know where Solomons Island, MD is, here is the map location. Click here for Solomons Island, MD MAP

Approximate Lat/Lon:

Latitude:N 38° 19' 5.6112"

Longitude:W 76° 27' 15.1227"

Anyway, here are a few photos of it.

[epicure3]

That is a great find. I wonder if that is the most northern largest, long-term palm on the East Coast. Hmmm.....

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

That is a great find. I wonder if that is the most northern largest, long-term palm on the East Coast. Hmmm.....

I don't think that it is. I know of one that is at someones home in Sterling, VA, which as the far northwestern suburbs of D.C. that is about that same size. There are also a few private homes that have Windmills that are close to that size in Alexandria, VA, but you can not really get pictures of them from the street. I know that I do have a couple photos somewhere of the homes in Alexandria, VA with those palms though, but I will have to look for em and post them.